Fighting cockerel fish

maintenance, care, compatibility

Cockerels are unusual, incredibly bright and exotic fish. Aquarists love them not only for their beautiful appearance, but also for their fighting character.

However, in order for these fish to please their owners for a long time, they need special care. This article contains information regarding the characteristics of the content and breeding of males in an aquarium.

The south-east of Asia is considered the birthplace of the cockerel fish. Its main habitats are warm, fresh, slow-flowing or standing bodies of water in Thailand, Vietnam, the Malay Peninsula and the islands of Indonesia.

The first mention of this unusual fish found in history in the 1800s. At that time, the people of Siam (now it is Thailand) noticed the increased aggressiveness of the males of this fish towards each other and started breeding a special breed for fighting money rates.

Cockerels were imported to Europe in 1892. The first countries to see the miracle fish were France and Germany.

In the US, they came in 1910, where Frank Locke brought a new color version of cockerels. In Russia, the history of their appearance is associated with the names of V.M.

Desnitsky and V.S. Melnikova and attributed to 1896.

In South Asia, cockerels were used to fight money stakes. Fights to the death of the fish, as a rule, did not lead, the case ended in shabby tails. Now such battles are prohibited.

The male rooster can fight to the point of exhaustion, even with its reflection in the mirror.

These fish are endowed with two respiratory systems: gills and a labyrinth organ.

Males are very interesting to show sympathy for the opposite sex: the female “fidgets” back and forth, while the male pulls out the gills and fins and wriggles with her whole body.

Do not too often iron the cockerels (although they allow), as some owners do. Scale on top has a protective layer of mucus.

If this film is inadvertently damaged, then the fish will become very vulnerable to various diseases.

Sometimes males can go to the bottom of the aquarium. If this does not last long, then do not worry – they are so relaxed.

Anxiety should be beaten if such behavior is observed for a long time. Then you need to consult a specialist and check the health of the fish.

If the fish are sick, then for their treatment there are special medicines (against fungi or parasites, antibiotics). They are best ordered at the pet store in advance.

We hope that this article was useful for those who plan to settle the fish-cockerel in their aquarium. Let the pet feel comfortable and for a long time happy with its beauty!

And according to the tradition, the video, which deals with the rules of care and maintenance of the Siamese Cockerel:

The cockerelfish (betta fish, Siamese cockerel, Betta splendens) is a species of fish that belong to the macropode family. This is a labyrinth fish that also uses atmospheric air for breathing.

The shape of the body of males is oval, it is flattened laterally and extended in length. The size of the fish is mostly small: males are about 5 cm, and females are 4 cm. However, there are individuals that can reach 10 cm in length.

The tail and upper fins have a rounded shape, pectoral ones – pointed. The fins of males are longer than those of females.

The males have a very interesting and varied color. They are one-, two- or multi-colored.

All colors of the rainbow can be present in the coloring, as well as their shades. Males are colored brighter than females.

The brightness of the color is affected not only by the lighting, but also by the condition of the fish: during spawning or clashes with their own kind, male males become most vivid.

The life of betta fish is approximately three years.

To date, breeders bred about 70 species of cockerels. All of them with a bright unusual color.

There are several classifications of species.

Depending on the shape of the fins and size:

voile tail;

crescent moontail;

crownstail

two-tailed;

round-tailed;

delta tail;

bristletail;

flagtail;

poster;

royal.

Depending on the color:

The cockerel fishes are considered unpretentious and easy to care for; however, some conditions should be met.

Males can be kept in small (10-15 liters), and in large aquariums. On one individual requires 3-4 liters of water.

If the aquarium is large, then it can be divided into several parts by partitions. In this case, several males can be kept in one tank at the same time without damage to their health.

Partitions are made of transparent non-toxic material with small holes for water circulation. Next to them, it is better to plant high plants in order to block fish from viewing and reduce undesirable meetings.

The males are able to jump quite high out of the water, so the top of the aquarium is equipped with a net or cover with holes for the passage of air

The cockerel is a labyrinth fish, that is, it breathes not only by the gills, but also by an additional special organ. In it, the blood is saturated with air, which the fish seizes with its mouth. Therefore, aeration for cockerels is not very important, but it is desirable to install a filter.

It may be of small capacity, as these fish do not like a strong current.

It is also important that the surface of the water is not completely overgrown with plants, so that the cockerel can rise to the surface and capture the air. Sometimes it happens that a bacterial film forms on the surface of the water.

It must be removed. This can be done with a sheet of paper, putting it to the surface of the water, and then removing it with the film.

Males in food are picky and almost omnivorous. For them you can use live, dry and frozen food.

Nevertheless, a large part of the diet should be a live feed (bloodworm, tube maker, daphnia, Cyclops, etc.). The cockerels will not refuse from rain or flatworms, snails or zooplankton.

Feed the fish 1-2 times a day. Food at one time give exactly enough to fish ate it completely in 15 minutes. Leftovers must be removed immediately.

Overfeeding is not recommended, as this can lead to fish obesity. Well, once a week to arrange a fasting day.

The cockerel or betta fish (Latin Betta splendens) is one of the most popular aquarium fish. Natural habitat – freshwater ditches, rivers, streams of Southeast Asia.

Often found in paddy fields. For the first time the fish was noticed by residents of Siam at the beginning of the XIX century. The “stranger” was distinguished by aggressive behavior towards his relatives. Later, the fighting fish was transferred to the imperial court, where it was examined by European scientists invited to the country.

Residents of Siam used the cockerel in the “fish” battles: the males vehemently demonstrated their strength, but no deaths occurred.

The genus Betta charges more than 70 species, and the Betta splendens cockerel is one of them. There are 6 more types of betta, which are not related to a particular type.

The genus Betta is divided into 2 groups: the representatives of the first build a foam nest, the second – incubate the eggs in the mouth. Today, aquarium betta ordinary are full of a variety of shapes and colors, so it is important for them to provide constant care.

The betta fish or cockerel (lat. Betta splendens) is unpretentious, handsome, but can slaughter the female and other males.

It is a typical labyrinth fish, that is, it can breathe atmospheric oxygen. It was the aquarium cockerel, and even his relative, the macropod, that were among the first aquarium fish that were brought to Europe from Asia.

But long before that moment, the fighting fish were already bred in Thailand and Malaysia.

Fish gained popularity for its luxurious appearance, interesting behavior and ability to live in small aquariums. And he is easily divorced and just as easily crossed, as a result – a lot of color variations, different in everything, from the color to the shape of the fins.

The wild form of the rooster does not shine with beauty – greenish or brown, with an oblong body and short fins. He received the name of the fighting fish for the fact that the males arrange furious fights with each other, which often end with the death of one of the opponents.

Wild form and to this day used in Thailand for fighting, although not already leading up to the complete destruction of one of the fish. Despite the fact that the fish are fierce fighters, they have a peculiar behavior in a fight. If one of the males rises after the air during the battle, the second one will not touch it, but wait patiently until it returns.

Also, if two males fight, the third does not interfere with them, but waits in the wings.

But those cockerels, which you will find on sale, are far from such fighting fish as their relatives. No, their character has not changed, they will also fight. The very concept of this fish has changed, because the current breeds must bear beauty, they have gorgeous fins, so long that they are damaged even by plants, not to mention fighting.

They are kept for beauty, gorgeous colors and equally gorgeous fins, and not for fighting qualities.

With the right neighbors, they are pretty livable. But during spawning, the male is extremely aggressive, and will attack any fish. Especially fish like him (even his female) or brightly colored.

Because of this, they usually keep one for an aquarium, or they pick up fish for him that he cannot offend. A male can be kept with a female, provided that the aquarium is large enough and the female has room to hide. Attention! The cockerel is just great for beginners and those aquarists who can not afford a large aquarium.

He needs the very minimum both in volume and in nutrition. And he is unpretentious, strong, always on sale.

Due to its labyrinth apparatus, it can survive in poor water for oxygen, and in very small aquariums.

The question of the volume of the aquarium for these fighting fish is a separate topic.

Alas, almost all pet stores sell these luxury fish in 250ml. glasses, while sellers tell people that these are “unique fish”, they say they do not need oxygen, filtration, that they feel great even in a glass.

Do not believe the sellers of pet stores, their task is to sell the goods, and what will happen next with the fish, with you and the tears of the child who saw the cockerel floated up with a belly up – DOESN’T INTEREST THEM. And yet, you would know how many cockerels do not live out of pet stores until the time of purchase.

You would sincerely feel sorry for these innocent fish.

Yes, of course, cockerels are hardy fish, in natural habitat they live in muddy, silted, oxygen-free rice fields. But this does not mean that they can be kept in a small glass with water. Firstly, because the conditions of keeping of any animal should be as close as possible to the natural living conditions.

Monkeys must jump in trees, birds fly, and fish swim. When the cockerel fish just hangs in a glass, dropping the fins – this is actually a sad sight. Secondly, in the cup, vase and other small vessels there is no biobalance at all.

In the rice field, for example, various biochemical processes take place that purify water from various poisons (ammonia, nitrites and nitrates), these processes are absent in a glass with water, the poisons accumulate, the immunity of the fish weakens and it dies. Biological equilibrium in artificial conditions can be achieved only in spacious aquariums, and the more, the better.

So, the minimum amount of aquarium (decorative vase, etc.) for cockerels should be 3 liters. To call such a vessel an aquarium is difficult in all senses, and therefore, if we talk about creating a full-fledged aquarium, the minimum volume for one individual should be 5-10 liters.

In such an aquarium, you can put a mini-filter, such an aquarium can be beautifully — naturally, you can plant aquarium plants, adjust the biobalance, and taking care of such a reservoir is much easier than washing the “pot” weekly, while delivering great stress to the fish. A good volume for a pair of Bette is considered an aquarium from 20-30l.

About how much you can keep the fish in the X aquarium, see HERE (at the bottom of the article there are links to aquariums of all volumes).

Requirements for the care and maintenance of cockerel fish

From the above, we can conclude that in one, a small aquarium, you can contain only one male cockerel. If the aquarium is large – from 100l. You can try to plant the second male or make transparent partitions in the aquarium, for example from plexiglass, pre-drilled holes in them to circulate the water in the aquarium.

In addition, I advocate the creation of a natural – natural environment in an aquarium. The aquarium can and should be decorated with stones, grottoes, snags, as well as living aquarium plants. Lighting should not be very bright, preferably the presence of filtering.

The aquarium itself should not be filled with water to the brim, you need to leave 7-10 cm and be sure to cover the aquarium. All labyrinth fish and cockerels in particular breathe atmospheric air, swallowing it from the surface of the water. In the absence of airspace or access to the surface of the water, the fish will suffocate.

A lid is needed to ensure that the air swallowed by cockerels from the surface of the water is not too cold.

An aquarium with cockerels can be equipped with artificial plants, but still, if you have the opportunity, purchase live aquarium plants. With live plants, the aquarium looks more natural, the plants themselves contribute to biological balance, and the males can also use them for spawning and creating a foamy nest.

Of unpretentious plants for cockerels can recommend: vallisneria, rogolini, cryptocorynes, other not complex plants.

Feeding and diet of cockerels: they are not whimsical in food, they are happy to eat both dry and live food (Artemia, bloodworm, etc.). The males eat any brand-name dry food, but advanced aquarium brands have developed special ones for them – individual foods that are best suited. Feeding aquarium fish should be correct: balanced, varied.

This fundamental rule is the key to successful keeping of any fish, be it guppies or astronotuses. Article “How and how much to feed aquarium fish” talks in detail about this, it outlines the basic principles of the diet and feeding regime of fish.

In this article, we note the most important thing – feeding fish should not be monotonous; both dry and live food should be included in the diet. In addition, you need to take into account the gastronomic preferences of a particular fish and, depending on this, include in its diet ration either with the highest protein content or vice versa with vegetable ingredients.

Popular and popular feed for fish, of course, are dry food. For example, hourly and everywhere can be found on the aquarium shelves of food company “Tetra” – the leader of the Russian market, in fact, the range of feeds of this company is striking. In the “gastronomic arsenal” of Tetra are included as individual feeds for a certain type of fish: for goldfish, for cichlids, for loricarids, guppies, labyrinths, arovan, discus, etc.

Also, Tetra has developed specialized foods, for example, for enhancing color, fortified or for feeding fry. Detailed information on all Tetra feeds, you can find on the official website of the company – here.

It should be noted that when buying any dry food, you should pay attention to the date of its production and shelf life, try not to buy food by weight, and also keep the food in a closed state – this will help avoid the development of pathogenic flora in it.

Description: Very beautiful fish, its veil tail and fins just fascinate. The color of the fish is different. The most common ink color with a reddish tint.

Males are colored much brighter, fins are longer than those of females. The size of the fish is 5-10 cm.

Body laterally compressed, elongated, oval. They have cycloid scales, pointed pectoral fins, upper and tail fin of a rounded shape, the lower fin originates from the head and ends at the base of the tail.

The history of cockerel fish

The first mention of the fish dates from the beginning of the nineteenth century, it was then that the people of Siam paid attention to these small, but lively and aggressive fish. Next, the Siamese began to cross wild individuals Betta and got a new kind of fish, calling it “biting fish.”

A couple of copies of these “pieces” in 1840. King of Siam handed over to Dr. Theodor Cantor, who in 1849 gave them the name Macropodus pugnax. After 60 years, the British ichthyologist Charles Tate Regan renamed them “The Beton Fish”, arguing that the Macropodus pugnax species already exists in nature.

It is known that the cockerel fish appeared in Paris in 1892, in Germany in 1896, and in 1910 appeared in the United States with Frank Locke from San Francisco, California. Through the selection of these fish, he received a “new” fish, calling it Betta Cambodia – one of the first color variations of Betta Splendens.

The history of the appearance of Bette in Russia is not truly known. There are several versions.

The first is associated with aquarist VM. Desnitsky, who allegedly in 1896. brought from Singapore exotic species of fish and plants, but it is not known for certain whether there were any cockerels among them. The second version says that the aquarist V.S.

Melnikov approximately in the same period spread a number of labyrinth fishes in Russia. By the way, a competition for the best fighting fish was established in his honor.

And the latest version says that the fighting fish were brought in by the Frenchman Seysel, and all descendants from Russia and Europe went from his fish.

Types of Bette and Petushki selection forms

The first thing I want to say is that the cockerel fish (Betta splendens) is one of the Bett species. Bette species should be distinguished from Betta splendens breeding forms.

On the Internet, everywhere breeding forms of a rooster are given for species, which is not correct!

And here, the selection forms of the Cockerel (Betta splendes) include:

In size and shape of the fins:

– Veiltail fighting fishes or “veil cock”

– Deltatail fighting fish

– Giant or royal fighting fish

– Crescent-tailed warrior fish

– Round-tailed fighting fish

– Crescent-tailed warrior fish

– Deltatail fighting fish

– Flagtail fighting fishes

– Poster fighting fish

– Crownstail fighting fish

– Poster fighting fish

– Crosstail fishes

– Two-tailed fighting fish

– other

By color: Multicolor “multicolor”, two-color, one-color.

Photos of some breeding forms

(Betta splendes)

The first video is especially recommended – Nest of cockerels, very beautiful HD shooting.

Royal cockerel and other types of fighting fish

The cockerel fish, the Siamese cockerel, or the fighting fish (lat. Betta splendens) is a member of the Macropod family, a suborder Labyrinth. Cockerel fishes are found in freshwater bodies with stagnant water in Southeast Asia.

In our time, the breeding forms of cockerels often become participants in international exhibitions.

For the first time, they learned about a cockerel fish in the 19th century, when the people of Siam found her in a rice ditch. Noticing the aggressive nature of their relatives, the people handed the fish to the local ruler. European naturalists who visited Siam, explored its features.

Later with her participation organized “cock” fights, for which the fish and nicknamed “fight”. Cockerels were brought to Europe in 1892.

In the early twentieth century, American breeders began to develop new species of Betta splendens, which were distinguished by fins of unusual symmetry and rich colors of scales.

The aquarium cockerel Betta splendens has an elongated, oval-shaped body, flattened on the sides. The body size of the male is 6 cm, females – 4 cm in length.

In most species, the color of the scales of males is brighter than that of females, the fins of males are lush and long, in females they are not so prominent. Today, in addition to natural species, there are a number of other species and breeds that were artificially bred.

Aquarium betta cockerels differ in a variety of forms: red fighting fish, yellow cockerels, blue, green, pink, white, multi-colored. In the light, the body of the fish flickers with different colors.

During the spawning period, males become very lush and bright, demonstrating their superiority over competitors. Even the female can differ in long fins, and engage in fights.

Betta fish, or betta cockerel got its name due to its character. The males are often kept alone: ​​so that they do not get bored, they attach a mirror to the wall of the tank. When settling in a common aquarium, the cockerel fish enters into fights with representatives of its own species, or other neighbors.

In the excited state, the female and male bulging fins and gill covers, gaining a formidable look.

The dorsal and caudal fins of the rooster are rounded, the ventral fin originates from the head or mid-belly, and ends at the very base of the caudal fin. Scales in fish of a cycloid structure, well adjacent to the skin. As a labyrinth species, the cockerel fish is a two-breathing hydrobiont, thanks to the labyrinth channel, captures the atmospheric air, dissolving it in this organ.

Also breathes with gills.

On the varieties of these fish in the form of the tail fin and coloring

The Cockerel fish (Betta splendens) is endemic to Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Thailand). The body of the fish is narrow, elongated, rounded in cross section. In the natural environment it feeds on insects, which are easily captured by the upper mouth. Betta vulgaris occurs with long and short fins. The wild fighting fish has scales of a dark brown shade on which green spots meet. The method of selection brought out the forms of Betta ordinary with veil fins and different color scales. The wild-looking fins play with different colors, shimmer in the world. The body length of an adult individual is 5-6 cm. Life expectancy is 3 years. The female is slightly paler in color, during spawning, she has a clearly visible umbilical cord, from which the ovipositor will emerge. All types of Betta ordinary sleep at the bottom of the aquarium with open eyes.

The black cock is not warlike, the black betta, the pygmy cock (Betta imbellis) is very beautiful, popular due to its interesting color and peaceful behavior. Often it is bred and sold in Thailand and Malaysia.

Body color can be blue, black and red. The tail fin is round or “delta”, has red, blue stripes.

The color of the scales is black with blue splashes. Peaceful fish was nicknamed because it can be kept in one tank in a company of 2 males and 2-4 females.

When establishing a hierarchy, the males will not fight, so this pet can be chosen by a novice aquarist.

Look at a pair of betta imbellis.

Crown tail Betta is a breeding form of Betta splendens Cockerel. The fish is immediately noticeable in the aquarium due to the rich bright color of the scales. Swims beautifully, mannered. The shape of the tail fin belongs to the crown-tailed species. The body is painted in red pigment, so for feeding the fish should be given food with carotenoids. Character, like many cockerels, fighting – you can settle without neighbors.

The Blue Siamese Cockerel is another form of Betta. The blue-colored cockerel is the favorite of newcomers to aquarism. The blue cockerel has a void-shaped fin, long, falling down. The body is completely blue except for the ventral fins (they are red) and the head, which is distinguished by a dark color. The fish is mannered, very beautiful, but it cannot be settled with its neighbors, who are not opposed to seize its magnificent finch.

The Green Cock, or Smaragda Betta, is a wild fish found in freshwater Asian waters. In the Betta smaragdina fish, the body has a slender, elongated symmetry, flattened on the sides. The color of the body is olive-green, there may be blueblue spots on the scales, which shimmer in the world. Gill covers and head painted dark. All fins can shine in different colors, or be painted in green, blue or red. Only the ventral fins are distinguished by a pure red tint. The dorsal fin is characterized by the presence of dark stripes. Genital differences are noticeable: the male has a larger fin size, the females on the dorsal fin have black lines. The body size of adults is 5.5–7 cm in length.

Cockerel fish: capricious and beautiful inhabitant of your aquarium

The cock aquarium fish (otherwise it is called the Siamese cockerel or the fighting fish) is representative of the most beautiful aquarium inhabitants. Male and female are easy to distinguish: as a rule, males are painted more intensely and brightly.

Aquarists do not cease to admire the fish, their appearance, cool temper, care for the offspring. How many live cockerel fish? Their life expectancy is from 1 to 3 years.

Of course, an important role is played by feeding, housing conditions, compatibility with other fish. This is proposed to talk.